Willis is perhaps best known for creating MasterLife discipleship materials while serving as the president of the Indonesian Baptist Theological Seminary in Semarang, Indonesia, was first commissioned an International Mission Board missionary to Indonesia, along with his wife, Shirley, in 1964. Willis is perhaps best known for creating MasterLife discipleship materials while serving as the president of the Indonesian Baptist Theological Seminary in Semarang, Indonesia, was first commissioned an International Mission Board missionary to Indonesia, along with his wife, Shirley, in 1964. During his service there, the Southeast Asian nation experienced a revival in which 2 million people gave their hearts to Christ. The large number of converts prompted Willis to pioneer innovative strategies for extension education and led the way in developing the prototype for what would become MasterLife. During the next 15 years as head of the adult discipleship department at LifeWay Christian Resources, MasterLife was translated into more than 50 languages and used in more than 100 countries. Willis left LifeWay in 1994 to become the International Mission Board’s senior vice president of overseas operations. All totaled, Willis spent 25 … [Read more...]

Cox has been North Metro’s pastor for more than 27 years. Under his leadership, the church has grown from 700 members to more than 4,600 today, with 3,600-plus individuals added to the church fellowship as baptized believers. A total of 164 persons have surrendered to full-time Christian service under. Cox has been North Metro’s pastor for more than 27 years. Under his leadership, the church has grown from 700 members to more than 4,600 today, with 3,600-plus individuals added to the church fellowship as baptized believers. A total of 164 persons have surrendered to full-time Christian service under. Cox is a former president of the Georgia Baptist Convention and former SBC first vice president. He also served on the SBC Executive Committee for nine years and currently is a member of the SBC Funding Study Committee. He was a member of the Ad Hoc Cooperative Program Committee which formed in 2003 and issued its final report in 2006 with recommendations about how to revitalize the SBC’s primary giving channel. Cox is married to the former Mary Roderick, who serves as the Georgia convention’s ministers’ wives ministry coordinator. The Coxes have two sons and a daughter. Cox’s first wife, Debbie, died of a brain tumor in July … [Read more...]

A native of North Carolina, Hunt has been pastor of the Woodstock church since December 1986. During his tenure, the church has seen average Sunday school attendance grow from 275 to 4,705 and church membership increase from 1,027 to 16,495, according to the 2007 Annual Church Profile. Current average church worship attendance is 6,180. A native of North Carolina, Hunt has been pastor of the Woodstock church since December 1986. During his tenure, the church has seen average Sunday school attendance grow from 275 to 4,705 and church membership increase from 1,027 to 16,495, according to the 2007 Annual Church Profile. Current average church worship attendance is 6,180. Since 1987, the congregation has sent out more than 135 missionaries and started more than 78 churches. Hunt is a graduate of Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs, N.C., where he was voted ministerial student of the year in 1979. He earned a master of divinity degree from Southeastern Seminary in 1981. The Chair of Church Growth at Southeastern was named for Hunt in 1997. Hunt is married to the former Janet Allen of Wilmington, N.C. The couple has two daughters and four grandchildren. Information from the 2007 Annual Church Profile for First … [Read more...]

Puryear, a native of North Carolina, has been pastor of Lewisville Baptist Church since 2005. Prior to his call into fulltime vocational ministry in 1996, Puryear served as a telecommunications executive for 25 years. Puryear, a native of North Carolina, has been pastor of Lewisville Baptist Church since 2005. Prior to his call into fulltime vocational ministry in 1996, Puryear served as a telecommunications executive for 25 years. Puryear is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and currently is working on a doctorate at Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburgh, Ind. He and his wife, the former Debbie Lewter of Wilmington, N.C., have two sons and two grandchildren. Information from the 2007 Annual Church Profile for Lewisville Baptist Church, lists 11 baptisms and primary worship service attendance of 195. The church received $4,751 for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and $1,500 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. According to the ACP, the church gave $20,331, or 5.9 percent, through the Cooperative Program in 2007 from total undesignated receipts of $343,795. Questions and Answers Puryear's answers to the … [Read more...]

A native of Arkansas, Drake has been pastor of the Buena Park congregation since 1987. He is a former second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and twice has served as moderator of the Orange County Southern Baptist Association. He is listed as a co-founder of the Presidential Prayer Team and currently serves as vice president of the Congressional Prayer Conference in Washington, D.C., and as chaplain to the Minuteman Project. He is a member of the board of directors of Crusade Radio, on which he hosts “The Wiley Drake Show.” A native of Arkansas, Drake has been pastor of the Buena Park congregation since 1987. He is a former second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention and twice has served as moderator of the Orange County Southern Baptist Association. He is listed as a co-founder of the Presidential Prayer Team and currently serves as vice president of the Congressional Prayer Conference in Washington, D.C., and as chaplain to the Minuteman Project. He is a member of the board of directors of Crusade Radio, on which he hosts “The Wiley Drake Show.” Drake is a perennial presence at open microphones during general business sessions of annual meetings. He is best known in Southern Baptist circles … [Read more...]

Wagner formerly was a professor of missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and before that an International Mission Board missionary for 31 years in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He served as SBC first vice president from 2003-04. He also is the pastor of a small San Francisco-area church, Snyder Lane Baptist, and the author of the 2004 book, “How Islam Plans to Change the World,” published by Kregel. Wagner formerly was a professor of missions at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and before that an International Mission Board missionary for 31 years in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He served as SBC first vice president from 2003-04. He also is the pastor of a small San Francisco-area church, Snyder Lane Baptist, and the author of the 2004 book, “How Islam Plans to Change the World,” published by Kregel. Wagner has written a “Contract with Southern Baptists,” which consists of 10 points he hopes to implement if elected. The contract can be viewed on the Internet at http://www.williamwagner.org/. Wagner received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and his master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He also holds a doctor … [Read more...]

Families in China’s earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province are in greatest need of water purification and trauma counseling, a Southern Baptist assessment team has concluded after a seven-day visit to the region that concluded May 30. CHENGDU, China (BP) – Families in China’s earthquake-ravaged Sichuan province are in greatest need of water purification and trauma counseling, a Southern Baptist assessment team has concluded after a seven-day visit to the region that concluded May 30. The 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck the region May 12 killed more than 69,000 people in hill country north of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. Nearly 19,000 people still are listed as missing, and 368,545 reportedly were injured. China’s Xinhua news service reports that 15,147,400 people have been evacuated from the disaster area. “China is a special case when it comes to disaster relief,” Southern Baptist disaster relief expert and assessment team leader Mickey Caison said. “Many of our normal expectations and strategies do not apply here. The best way to support these needs is to primarily work through local groups. “With a population of 1.3 billion, there is no shortage of labor,” Caison said. “And the Chinese army … [Read more...]

Serving Jesus, while serving you. The sign at the entrance of the camp reflects what Dry Creek Baptist Camp has offered for almost 30 years. DRY CREEK – Serving Jesus, while serving you. The sign at the entrance of the camp reflects what Dry Creek Baptist Camp has offered for almost 30 years. Nestled away in the pine forests of southern Beauregard Parish, the 62-acre encampment provides summer camps for the young, year-round retreats for the adults, and a refuge for all those looking to escape the distractions of their everyday lives so they can get closer to God. The camp was once Dry Creek High School, which closed in 1960, but was bought by the Louisiana Baptist Convention in 1980. The old school was renovated and the Adult center, as it is now called, has 26 hotel-like rooms as well as two conference rooms where many retreats are held yearly. The rest of the camp, which rests to the right of the old school, sprung up on land purchased when the school was bought in 1980. Located at the intersection of La. Highway 113 and 394, there is only the camp – the source of great community pride –, a small post office and a small general store.   To fully appreciate, and understand the pride the community has in this … [Read more...]

NEW ORLEANS – In many ways, New Orleans is back. The economy, fueled by rebuilding efforts and open ports at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, is robust, with unemployment at 3.8 percent. NEW ORLEANS – In many ways, New Orleans is back. The economy, fueled by rebuilding efforts and open ports at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico, is robust, with unemployment at 3.8 percent. More than 400,000 people attended the annual Jazz and Heritage Festival last month. But vital statistics don’t tell the whole story. On the residential streets that Don Snipes drives every day, the rot on most homes from the flooding of Hurricane Katrina nearly three years ago is still evident. For every freshly painted, spick-and-span rebuild, there are three, maybe four, that look dilapidated. A few have weeds growing waist high and the letters TFW (toxic flood water) still spray-painted on  the front of the houses in the aftermath of the 2005 disaster. Not everyone will return and some houses will be demolished, yet the task that remains seems overwhelming, said Snipes, the SBTC’s on-site coordinator for Southern Baptists’ Operation NOAH (New Orleans Area Hope) Rebuild effort. Snipes, who came to the job from a pastorate in Big Spring and … [Read more...]

Each spring and fall since 1981, Baptist ministers and laymen have gathered at various locations throughout Louisiana to enjoy a time of fellowship and golf. ALEXANDRIA – Each spring and fall since 1981, Baptist ministers and laymen have gathered at various locations throughout Louisiana to enjoy a time of fellowship and golf. The tradition was kept alive this spring as more than 80 pastors and laymen participated in a friendly – but highly competitive – two-day tournament here in Alexandria. The 20, four-man teams from across the state of Louisiana participated  at the 18-hole Links on the Bayou.  A number of new players attended this spring’s tournament – in its 27th year – to compete alongside the numerous veterans from previous Baptist Golf Fellowship tournaments. “Woodridge Baptist in  Shreveport always has a good group,” said Wayne Taylor, executive director of the Louisiana Baptist Foundation and a sponsor of the tournament.  “Woodlawn Baptist in Baton Rouge brought 10 players to this year’s tournament,” said Tommy Middleton, church pastor. Chuck Lowman badgered him into coming to this year’s event, Middleton said.  “This is just a warmup for Woodlawn’s fall golf tournament,” Lowman, a five-time … [Read more...]